Marcus Rashford has been axed from the England squad for friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.
England boss Gareth Southgate has snubbed the Manchester United forward after his alarming dip in form at Old Trafford. It will be a huge blow to Rashford who has become a national treasure because of his work with charity and campaigning but he has struggled badly for confidence and this could leave his whole World Cup place under threat.
But there is a first call up for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi as a reward for his form. Plus there is a recall for Ben White, while Emile Smith Rowe and Conor Gallagher also make the squad. Nick Pope returns as one of the keepers but Kalvin Phillips misses out because of an injury.
England boss Southgate said Guehi’s performances in the big games for Palace have earned him a maiden call-up.
Southgate said: “With Marc he has had a really consistent season, I have been really impressed on and off the ball.
“In the biggest games he has been really calm, we know a lot about him from the junior teams. There are some centre-halves who are pushing and very close but we have chosen Marc and Ben White.”
While Rashford has struggled for form, Sancho has just started reaching the sort of levels which prompted United to spend £73million on the forward last summer.
On Sancho, Southgate added: “There are other attacking players in our squad who are ahead of him in our opinion. Jadon in the last few weeks his performances have improved but it is an area of the pitch where we have competition for places.
“With Marcus, he is in the same position as everyone else, whether they are in the squad or not they all have to play well in the next period, it is a difficult time for him, he is clearly not at his best. There is plenty of time, we know about Marcus, we know what he can bring to us.”
Kyle Walker is another surprise omission, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James the two right-backs included this time around. Newcastle's Kieran Trippier misses out due to injury. Luke Shaw is the only recognised left-back included.
Southgate also had words of praise for West Ham's Jarrod Bowen, enjoying a fine season in the Premier League. Only Mohamed Salah has more combined goals and assists in the top flight than Bowen, but an injury suffered at Anfield ended his hopes of a maiden call up.
Southgate said: "We never had to make a decision because we knew he was going to be out injured. He's certainly done everything he can to put himself in the frame."
Full England Squad
Goalkeepers : Nick Pope ( Burnley ), Jordan Pickford ( Everton ), Aaron Ramsdale ( Arsenal )
Defenders : Trent Alexander-Arnold ( Liverpool ), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Reece James ( Chelsea ), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones ( Manchester City ), Ben White (Arsenal), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)
Midfielders : Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace), Declan Rice ( West Ham United), James Ward-Prowse ( Southampton )
Forwards : Tammy Abraham (AS Roma), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Harry Kane ( Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
